The 2024/25 NDRC season came to a thunderous close at the Nitro Nationals where Lamattina Top Fuel Racing (LTFR) wrapped up a year of power, passion and promise in front of a packed Sydney Dragway crowd.
The one-day finale delivered everything fans expect from drag racing’s premier category – Top Fuel fought for the last championship points of the season in scorching summer conditions.
For LTFR and driver Phil Lamattina, the Nitro Nationals capped off a season of reinvention and renewed focus. The team faced fierce competition all day, with Lamattina going head-to-head with eventual event and championship winner Wayne Newby in Round One. Both drivers delivered crowd-pleasing runs, Newby’s 3.999-second pass at 498 km/h edging out Lamattina’s sharp 4.095-second charge at nearly 400 km/h.
In Round Two, Lamattina lined up against Damien Harris, pushing hard before hazing the tyres and backing off mid-run, and later rounded out the day against Phil Read, once again launching strong before losing traction early. While the results didn’t fall LTFR’s way, the car showed genuine pace, proving the team remains among Australia’s elite Top Fuel contenders.
“It wasn’t the finish we wanted today, but that’s racing — we gave it everything,” said Phil Lamattina. “The car’s got great pace, and the crew has worked incredibly hard all season. We’ll regroup, refine, and come back stronger.”
The 2024/25 campaign was one of resurgence and rebuilding for LTFR. The team entered the year with renewed energy and a strengthened technical foundation, fuelled by their long-standing partnerships with FUCHS Lubricants, R&J Batteries, and Muirs. LTFR made a major operational move — relocating their servicing and preparation base to the family farm in Wemen, Victoria — giving the crew a fully customised workshop and testing environment for their 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster.
Early rounds saw their share of challenges, including a late start to the season and a highly competitive field, but by the time the series reached the Westernationals in Perth, the team was ready to begin the championship campaign. Lamattina showed flashes of brilliance with strong launches and tight side-by-side runs, even after a long stint out of the driver’s seat.
From there, the focus shifted to refining data, improving race-day execution, and rebuilding momentum. Though race results didn’t always tell the full story, the team’s progress behind the scenes was unmistakable — from crew performance and car prep to consistency across qualifying and eliminations.
As the curtain falls on the season, LTFR closes the year healthier, sharper, and hungrier than ever. The championship may have slipped away this time, but the lessons learned and the foundations built promise a strong return next season.
“We’ve come a long way this year,” Lamattina added. “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, proud of our people, and grateful for everyone who supports us — especially our sponsors, partners, and fans. This is what keeps us pushing forward.”
“And I want to offer a huge congratulations to Wayne Newby and the Rapisarda Autosport International team on an incredible season — they earned it.”
With the nitro fumes still hanging in the Sydney air, Lamattina Top Fuel Racing now turns its focus to the future — determined to turn this season’s progress into next season’s podiums. But first, it’s demonstration time at the Adelaide 500!
Stay tuned to the team’s socials for what comes next!
